Type inserting mechanism for printing machines



N0V- 27 1934- M. .1. HOFFMAN I TYEE INSERTING MECHANISM FOR PRINTINGMACHINES Filed Sept. 2l, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

5L @y ATTORNEY.

Nov. 27, 1934. M, .1. HOFFMAN 1,982,003

TYPE INSERTING MEGHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed Sept. 2l, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 /l/J ATTORNEY.

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Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UliiiiED STATES PATENT FFECE TYPE IVNSERTINGMECHANISM FOR PRINTING MACHINES Application September 21, 1933, SerialNo. 690,311

16 Claims.

This invention relates to type inserting mechanism for printing machinesand its principal object is to provide mechanism for storing amultiplicity of type bars, any one or any pair of which may be readilybrought into operative position for use in connection with the printingmachine and projected from the inserting mechanism into the printingmachine in printing position to print information upon a card orothersheet.

As illustrated, the invention has been designed for use in connectionwith coupon ticket printing machines, an example of which is clearly yshown and described in my pending application, Serial No. 657,531, iiledFebruary 20, 1933 for improvements in Coupon ticket printing mechanism,but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such useas it is applicable to many other types of printing machines in which itis frequently necessary to substitute lines of type for those in use forprinting other data. Usually coupon ticket printing machines areemployed for printing data upon two parallel rows of coupons that aredetachable from the main body of the coupon ticket such as is used forkeeping record of several workmens labor upon a lot of articles, thedata printed upon each coupon ordinarily comprising the quantity ornumbery of pieces and identification number for the job lot and theprice to be paid each workman for his particular work upon the articlesrepresented by the coupon ticket. I have found it desirable to printthis data in two rows, and I provide type bars which contain type toprint the price upon each coupon at the same time that the other data isprinted thereon, and inasmuch as it is frequently necessary to alter theprices, many type bars are provided in connection with each machine,which type bars ordinarily areA stored in a convenient place and when achange has to be made, the type bars in the machine must be removedtherefrom and replaced by the selected type bars.

In accordance with the present invention, all of the type bars thataccompany the machine are stored in the inserting mechanism and thelatter is located adjacent the printing machine in such position thatany selected type bar or any selected pair or group of type bars may bereadily moved into operative position and projected into the printingmachine in position to print the data (contained on the type bars) in aline adjacent to the data printed by the type members regularlycontained in the printing machine.

(ci. 27s-4) Another object of the present invention is to provide acarrier for the type barsk having a plurality of guideways in which arecontained type bars, any selected one or any selected pair or group ofwhich may be brought into operative 5 position and projected into theprinting machine in printing position therein. f

Another object is to provide bar projectin means engageable withselected type bars that have been brought into operative position,whereby said type bars may be projected into the printing machine foruse therein, and retracted therefrom when it is necessary to replacethem with other type bars.

The invention further consists in the several novel features or"construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully setforth and described.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying thisspeciiication in which Fig. l is an end elevation, partly broken out, oftype inserting mechanism for printing machines, embodying a simple formof the present invention showing the same in connection with a printingmachine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevationy of a portion of the printing machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectiontaken on the line 3-3 of Fig.1, parts of the mechanism being brokenaway;

Fig. 4 is a iragmental perspective view of one of the type barsemployed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective View of one of the guideways in whichthe type bars arc supported;

Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section through one of the guideways and typebars taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail cross-section of the guideway and type bar taken onthe line 7--7 of Fig'. 3 and Fig. 8 is a detail, enlarged, sectionalview of one of the bar projecting fingers and associated parts.

Referring to said drawings, which are merely schematic and illustrateone embodiment of the 45 invention, the reference character l0designates a printing machine which may be of anyV desirable characterfor printing data upon a card or other sheet. For convenience inillustratingl the invention, I have chosen a coupon ticket printing 50machine constructed in accordance with the disclosure of my aboveident'ied application, to which reference may be made for a fullexplana-` tion of the construction and operation of that machine.Brieiiy the printing machine contains 55 a pair of spaced guideways 11adapted to receive and support a pair of type bars i2 in printingposition. In the coupon ticket printing machine illustrated, theguideways 1l. are provided by forming notches in the upper edges ofspaced plates14 that are provided in said machine for spacing apartcertain type wheels and other mechanism (not shown) and which forms nopart of the present invention. The guideways 11 open out through theside wall 16 of the printing machine as at and the type bars areinserted through the openings 15 into the guideways 11. Suitableimpression making mechanism 17 isprovided in the printing machine forprinting the data contained on the type bars upon a coupon ticket orother card or sheet in the usual manner. The type bars 12 are positionedin the printing machine to print data adjacent other data printed by theprinting elements of the printing machine. In other respects, theprinting machi e illustrated may be constructed in accordance with thecoupon ticket printing inachinedescribed and illustrated in theapplication above referred to, or any other suitable p rinting'inachinemay be used wherein it is desired to print with one or more lines oftype which require occasional replacement with type bars containingdifferent data.

The inserting mechanism is illustrated generally at 18 and is shown asmounted upon a table 19 which is formed at one end with a raised table20 upon which the printing machine is definitely mounted in relation tothe inserting mechanism. Uprights 21 support the table 20 at therequired position above the table 19.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the 'ryoe inserting mechanismembodies a carrier 22 here shown in the form of a drum xedly mountedupon a shaft 23 rotatively mounted in a bearing bracket 24 at one endand a bearing member 25 at the other end. The bearing bracket 24 issupported upon the table 19 and the bearing member 25 supported upon thetable 20 or upon a head 26 of the inserting mechanism. A cylindricalcasing 27 surrounds the drum and has the head 26 fastened to it at oneend and a head 28 fastened to it at the other end. The casing, togetherwith its heads, are stationarily mounted upon the table 19. The casingis provided for protecting the drum against injury and for keeping dustand dir-t away therefrom.

Preferably the drum is composed of `disks 29,

30 rigidly mounted on the shaft 23 and a plurality,

of guideways 31 ciroumferentially disposed about the disks. extendingtherebetween and rigidly fastened thereto. For convenience in accuratelylocating the guideways 31, the disks are notched at the periphery toreceive the guideways and the latter are welded, soldered or otherwiseiiX- edly secured to the disks. The guideways are preferably in the formof channels yo1? suitable length to contain type bars of the desiredlength. The type bars may be as much as 18to 24 inches or more inlength, and accordingly the guideways should be of a .length toaccommodate the longest type bars used with the printing machine.

At the end of the drum farthest removed from the printing machine, theguideways are provided with iianged end walls 32, and thek opposite endsof the guideways are left openr and provided with overhanging flanges33. The flanged ends 32 and iianges 33 or the guideways overlie the typebars and provide means for preventing them from falling out ci theguideways whenever the open sides of the guideways are direc-teddownwardly. In the head 26 of the casing are openings 34 registeringWirth the guideways 11 of the printing machine whereby selected typebars may be proj ect-ed from the drum into the guideways in the printingmachine in position to print upon a coupon ticket or other card orsheet.

The drum may be adjusted :to bring any group of two or more type bars,stored therein, into alignment with the guideways 11, and Iforconvenience, I have illustrated a handwheel 35 upon one end of the drumshaft 23, which handwheel is provided with indicating characters thatcooperate with a pointer 36 to indicate the group of type bars that arelocated in operative position to be inserted into the printing machine.Desirably, the handwheel 35 Imay be notched to Ipermit the pointer 36lto engage therewith at deiinite places and thus positively hold theldrum in exact position with the selected type bars held in alignmentwith the guideways in the printing machine.

For projecting the type bars into the guideways of the printing machine,I have provided a bar projector 37 here shown as slidably mounted uponthe casing 27 and having ngers 38 engageable wi-th the selected typebars when moved into `operative position, namely the position in whichthey are aligned with the guideways in the printing machine. et ytheends of the type bars farthest removed from the printing machine, eachis provided with notches 39 into which a; iinger 38 may be inserted soas to couple the bar projector with the selected type bars. The fingers38 are contained in slide Iblocks 40 that are mounted on the casing walland guided to move along slots 41 formed therein, and the upper ends ofthe fingers are connected by a handle 42 provided with a knob 43by meansof which the iingers may be depressed into the notches of the type barsand whereby the latter may be slid into the guideways of lthe printingmachine and retracted therefrom. Coiled compression springs betweenthehandle 42 and guide blocks 40 serve to retract the iingers from thenotches.

The type bars shown-comprise channel shaped bars provided along theirlength with spaced tongues 44 that overlie the channel, and the type 45are set between the said tongues. The tongues space the groups of typeapart so that when the type bar is inserted inthe printing machine, theseveral groups of type will print at the proper places on the couponticket or .other sheet. The type are locked in the channel bar by astrip 46 which extends through notches in the type and extendsunderneath the tongues 44 on one side of the channel bar.

In Fig. 1, the type bars 12 are shown only in the two guideways 31 thatare in operative position in alignment with the guideways 11 in theprinting machine. It is to be understood, however, that all of theguideways may be loaded with type bars. Furthermore the guideways arearranged in pairs about the circumference of the drum so that anyselected pair may be brought into operation the position illustrated inFig. 1. Eachpair of guideways comprise a group, but the group mayconsist of more than two guideways if so desired.

Desirably the casing 27 may be formed with a hinged section 47, lockedthereto by a lock 48, and the bar projector may be mounted on thishinged section. With the hinged section, access may be had to the drumfor the purpose of replac ing any type bar in case this becomesnecessary. To remove a type bar from the drum it is moved slightly tovthe right as viewed in Fig. 3 to disfio engage its other end from theangeof theend wall of the guideway, whereupon the type bar may beWithdrawn.

In the operation ofthe mechanism, the drum is loaded with the type bars,the companion Ybars of the pairs or groups being placed in therespectivegroups of guideways. Wishing to print ydata with a certain pair or grouprof type bars, vtheattendant turns the handwheel untii .the identifyingnumber' thereon, corresponding with the `selected group of type bars,appears at the pointer and the latter slips into the adjacent notchinthe handwheel. The selected type bars nowhave been adjusted intoalignment with the group of guideways in the printing machine. Theattendant thereupon depresses the handle of the bar'projector therebyengaging the fingers thereof .in the notches of the selected type bars,and pushes .the bar projector toward the printing machine until the typebars are stopped in the machine, in which position the type on said typebars are located in proper positionto print on the coupon ticket orother sheet in the printing machine; The impression or impressions arethen made as usual. It will be noted that the type bars remain partly inthe guideways in the drum thereby locking the drum against movement.Wishing to print with other type bars, the bar projector is re-engagedwith the type bars in use, and moved back, thereby retracting them fromthe printing machine, whereupon another group can be moved to operativeposition as before.

It is to be understood that the term type `bar is understood to includethe several kinds of printing elements such as interchangeable vset typelocked in a holder, plates, slugs and so forth, now commonly' in use.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a carrierhaving a plurality of guideways therein, means for moving the carrier tobring any selected guideway into operative position, and type barsslidably supported in said guidetvays, and each containing spaced groupsof type therein, said bars, with the type therein, being adapted to beprojected from the guideway when in operative position.

2. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a drumhaving circumferentially disposed guideways therein, type bars slidablysupported in said guideways, each type bar having spaced groups of typetherein, means for rotating the drum to bring any selected type bar intooperative position, and bar projecting means engageable with theselected type bar at said operative position.

3. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a drumhaving circumferentially disposed groups of guideways therein, means forrotating the drum to bring any selected group of guideways intooperative position, and type bars slidably supported in said guideways,the type bars contained in the group of guideways, located at theoperative position thereof, being capable of being projected from saidpair of guideways.

4. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a carrierhaving a plurality of pairs of guideivays therein, type bars slidablysupported in said guideways, means for moving the carrier to brimT anyselected pair of type bars into operative position and bar projectingmeans engageable with said selected pair of bars at their operativeposition.

' disposed pairs of guideways, type bars slidably mounted in ysaidguideways,` setting means for .movingl saidfdrum Vto bring any selectedpair of f type'bars` into operative position, and bar projecting meansengageable with said selected pair .otyperbars at theiroperativeposition.

6. In mechanism of the character described, the .combination of .arotatable drum having circumferentially disposed groups of guidewaystherein, and .capable of being rotated whereby to bring `anyiselected.group of guideways into operative position, type'bars slidably guidedin said guide- 4ways, :andsiidablyguided bar projecting means having barengaging elements adapted to engage the type bars locatedattheiroperative position.

`In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a rotatabledrum having circum- .ferentially disposed groups of guideways therein,and capable of being rotated to bring any selected group of guidewaysinto operative position, type vbars slidably guided in said guideways, abar projecting means engageable with the group or .type bars located insaid operative position, and guiding means for guiding said bai;projecting means to move in parallel relation to said type barguideways.

8. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with aprinting machine having a guideway therein for receiving and holding atype bar in printing position, of a carrier mounted adjacent thereto andhaving a plurality of guideways, any selected one of which is adapted tobe moved into alignment .with the guideway in the printing machine, andtype bars slidably sup- .ported'in the guideways of the carrier, any oneof which is adapted to be projected into the guideway in the printingmachine, when its associated guideway is aligned With the guideway inthe printing machine.

9. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with aprinting machine having a group of guideways therein for receiving andholding a group of type bars in printing position,

of a drum mounted adjacent the printing machine and having a pluralityof groups of guideways, circumferentially disposed about the drum,setting means for bringing any selected group of guideways of the druminto alignment with the group of guideways in the printing machine, andtype bars slidably mounted in the guideways of the drum, and adapted,when in operative position, to be projected into the group of guidewaysin the printing machine.

10. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with aprinting machine having a group of guideways therein for receiving andholding a group of type bars in printing position, of a drum mountedadjacent the printing machine and having a pluralityof groups ofguidevfays, circumferentially disposed about the drum, setting means forbringing any selected group of guideways of the drum into alignment withthe group of guideways in the printing machine, type bars slidablymounted in the guideways of the drum, and adapted, when in operativeposition,

lili@ Idil to be projected into the group of guideways in the printingmachine, and bar projecting means engageable with the group of type barscontained in the guideways of the drum aligned with the guideways of theprinting machine.

11. In mechanism of the character described, the combination with aprinting machine having a group of guideways therein for receiving andholding a group of type bars in printing position, of a drum mountedadjacent the printing machine and having a plurality of groups of guide-Ways, circumfe-rentially disposed about the drum, setting means forbringing any selected group of guideways of the drum into alignment withthe group of guideways in the printing machine, type bars slidablymountediin the guideways ofthe drum, and adapted, when in operativeposition, to be projected into the-group of guideways in the printingmachinabar projecting means engageable with the group of type barscontained in the guideways of the drum aligned with the guideways of theprinting machine,. and guide means for said bar projecting meansextending parallel With said type bars.

12. In mechanism of the character described,

vthe combination of a printing machine having a group of guidewaystherein for receiving and holding a group of type'bars in printingposition,

of a drum rctatively mounted adjacent said machine and having aplurality of groups of guide- Ways circumferentially disposed about thedrum, the latter being capable of being rotated to bring any selectedgroup of guidevvays thereof into` mounted a handwheel onsaid shaft forrotating' the` same, bar projecting means external of the .casing andhaving means' engageable with selected typebars, whereby to project saidselected type bars from the guideways.

14. The combination with a table, of a printing machine mounted thereonand having a group of guideways for receiving and holding type bars inprinting position, and type bar storing mechanism mounted on said tableand having type bar selecting mechanism and type bar inserting meansarranged to insert selected type bars into the guideways in the printingmachine.

15. Storing and inserting mechanism for printing machines of thecharacter having guideways for receiving and holding type bars inprinting position, said mechanism comprising a carrier having guidewaysfor slidably holding a plurality of type bars, and capable of beingadjusted to bring any selected type bars into alignment with theguideways in the printing machine.

16. Inmechanism of the character described, the combination with acoupon ticket printing machine having a pair of guideways therein forreceiving and holding a pair of type bars in printing position, of adrum like ,carrier mounted adjacent thereto and having a plurality ofpairs of guideways, any selected pair ofr which is adapted .to be movedinto alignment with the guideways in the coupon ticket printing machine,and type bars slidably supported in the guideways of the carrier, anypair of Which is adapted to be projected into the guideways in thecoupon ticket printing machine, when its associated guideways arealigned With the guideways in the coupon ticket printing machine.

MORRIS J HOFFMAN.l

